Skipped hearbeats, tachycardia...

The last few weeks have been hell for me. Before then, I've noticed a "fluttery" feeling in my chest, but it's gotten a lot worse recently. I get "skipped" heartbeats when I lay down most of the time, often more than one but not consecutively, more like every minute or so, until I sit up - sometimes that works. sometimes I get a racing heartbeat that's -very- fast (today was the worst one) and I can't get it to come down until I walk around a bit and do exercises to stimulate the vagus nerve (massaging the eyelids, the neck, squatting down, etc...sometimes it works, sometimes not.) but today's episode was only calmed by actually laying down and causing the beats to come back, kind of making them "skip" back into place and chill out. Only this time the beats were quite erratic as well, just all over the place. Anyway.

I've had cardiovascular tests run (EKGs, Holter monitor, 2d echocardiogram) and they all came back "normal", which led me to believe that something else had to be causing the problem. Of course, the events didn't show up on the Holter. Go figure. So I did like any other panicky individual with access to the internet would to, I went symptom hunting. I've noticed a lot of people with symptoms like mine, and I'd like to get your opinions on it as well.

My symptoms vary, but are mostly like this: bloated, icky feeling, gassy, I have a fluttering in the middle of my chest (possibly esophageal spasms?), and skipping/erratic heartbeats when I lay down - doesn't matter which side or if I'm on my back, sometimes I can even be leaning back or sitting straight up or even standing...but usually laying down is when they start...When I have bad ones, I get a bad feeling in my lungs and feel the need to cough, they feel like they're just aching and burning a little as well. A few times I've had weird symptoms after the skipped beats, I dunno if it's because of panic or genuine symptoms of whatever this beast is. I feel the need to urinate a LOT - and not just a feeling but I actually do - and the frequency is every few minutes for a while... I also get a weird, clinching/shivery chill feeling that starts in the "pit" of my stomach i.e. the top, and radiates throughout my body. So much for normal.

Also a week or so ago I had a lot of neck pain, a burning/aching and I've also developed a weird "clicking" feeling when I swallow. I don't know what that's all about. Anyway...

A lot of the symptoms point to irritation of the Vagus nerve, and my doctor is basically clueless as to what it is but said it could be gastro-related. I just want answers. He gave me Nexium to try for 30 days, but I'm unsure if I should take it.

I'm also on Tramadol for back pain, and decreasing the dose didn't make them go away. I've cut out caffeine completely, didn't help.

My questions are...

Have any of you guys had these symptoms related to skipped beats? If so, what were the results?

Should I actually take the Nexium?

Is there any other way of relief besides changing the diet?

Any help/thoughts on this subject will be very much appreciated. Wow, I just read this long post. Sounds like I'm a big hypochondriac! But I am not. I've been healthy (knock on wood) up until all of this, save for back pain.

Thanks for listening, guys. Hope to hear your thoughts soon.

Post Edited (synergistic) : 2/15/2008 7:54:48 PM (GMT-7)

Thanks for the reply. I forgot to mention I'm a 28 year old female, if that makes any difference. I started the Nexium the other night, had no major episodes yesterday but when I woke up today and rolled over on to my stomach, my pulse rate started going slow and then I had the flutter/skipped beats, but I got up and moved around and it went back to normal. Still having a weird feeling in my chest though, but no biggie compared to the last few days. I'm not sure if the Nexium has had enough time to work, probably not. If it's even a GERD problem...

As for the mitral valve prolapse, my cardiologist said that everything on the ekg/holter/2d echo was fine... however tomorrow I'm going to call to see if I can get an event monitor to track these episodes so he can really see what's going on since the Holter monitor didn't show anything but rapid heartbeats. Like they say, when wearing a Holter monitor you'll have the healthiest 24 hrs of your life...lol

The thing that makes me question the GERD theory is that I don't have any actual pain most of the time. Sometimes I get heartburn, but when these episodes come on it's not a pain - more of a discomfort and just a general odd feeling in the middle of my chest. Makes me feel like I need to cough, like something is sitting there in my lungs...I dunno. All these symptoms just seem so weird!

As for anxiety, I have had panic attacks in the past and this is nothing like it... I'm very calm when these come on (although once I realize I'm having them, I do tend to get panicky - probably doesn't help). They have usually happened when I would go to lay down at night, or after waking up.

The other day was particularly frightening for me, when I woke up I had a very fast heartbeat and the beats would skip sometimes as well as just beat erratically, with no real rhythm...my bp was elevated as well but that's a given. it eventually went back to normal, and these kind of episodes have only happened 3 or 4 times (usually when I get heart skips it's not followed by tachycardia unless I'm panicky...which I haven't been lately because I've gotten "used" to them...or as used to them as possible.) It's just really scary, as I'm sure some of you can relate to.

Thanks for letting me get this stuff of my chest (no pun intended :), this is a really good forum, and very helpful.

I get similar symptoms to you.

I cannot lay down, I have to have 3 pillows propping me up at night otherwise I get the racing heart and feel like my chest is constricted. Same as you, I no longer panic when I get this feeling as I am used to it.

After numerous tests I have been diagnosed with Non-Ulcer Dyspepsia. (Basically, chronic indigestion for no apparent reason.) I don't believe my stomach problems are caused by stress / anxiety as I am a very calm and relaxed person.

I have been on Ompreazole for around a year, but my doctors wanted me to come off the drug if possible as I am only 28 and do not want to stay on prescription medication for the rest of my life.

I have been investigating this further myself as the doctors have told me to go away and do "whatever works for you" to manage my symptoms. I have found that a lot of gas and bloating can be caused by a "clogged" spleen, so I am currently working on that with a change of diet. One symptom of poor spleen function is teeth marks around the edge of your tongue, which I have.

Hi Synergistic,

I have the same symptoms.  I also had all the tests run.  In my case I have a borderline abnormal EKG which looks like an Anterior Infarc but isn't.  After 2 years of testing, the cardiologist came to the same conclusion as my gastroenterologist did--it's acid reflux or GERD.  He said that every single heart test he ran showed no problems with my heart.  I do have mild tachycardia and it is probably related to GERD and stress.

Marburg

synergistic said...
The last few weeks have been hell for me. Before then, I've noticed a "fluttery" feeling in my chest, but it's gotten a lot worse recently. I get "skipped" heartbeats when I lay down most of the time, often more than one but not consecutively, more like every minute or so, until I sit up - sometimes that works. sometimes I get a racing heartbeat that's -very- fast (today was the worst one) and I can't get it to come down until I walk around a bit and do exercises to stimulate the vagus nerve (massaging the eyelids, the neck, squatting down, etc...sometimes it works, sometimes not.) but today's episode was only calmed by actually laying down and causing the beats to come back, kind of making them "skip" back into place and chill out. Only this time the beats were quite erratic as well, just all over the place. Anyway.

I've had cardiovascular tests run (EKGs, Holter monitor, 2d echocardiogram) and they all came back "normal", which led me to believe that something else had to be causing the problem. Of course, the events didn't show up on the Holter. Go figure. So I did like any other panicky individual with access to the internet would to, I went symptom hunting. I've noticed a lot of people with symptoms like mine, and I'd like to get your opinions on it as well.

My symptoms vary, but are mostly like this: bloated, icky feeling, gassy, I have a fluttering in the middle of my chest (possibly esophageal spasms?), and skipping/erratic heartbeats when I lay down - doesn't matter which side or if I'm on my back, sometimes I can even be leaning back or sitting straight up or even standing...but usually laying down is when they start...When I have bad ones, I get a bad feeling in my lungs and feel the need to cough, they feel like they're just aching and burning a little as well. A few times I've had weird symptoms after the skipped beats, I dunno if it's because of panic or genuine symptoms of whatever this beast is. I feel the need to urinate a LOT - and not just a feeling but I actually do - and the frequency is every few minutes for a while... I also get a weird, clinching/shivery chill feeling that starts in the "pit" of my stomach i.e. the top, and radiates throughout my body. So much for normal.

Also a week or so ago I had a lot of neck pain, a burning/aching and I've also developed a weird "clicking" feeling when I swallow. I don't know what that's all about. Anyway...

A lot of the symptoms point to irritation of the Vagus nerve, and my doctor is basically clueless as to what it is but said it could be gastro-related. I just want answers. He gave me Nexium to try for 30 days, but I'm unsure if I should take it.

I'm also on Tramadol for back pain, and decreasing the dose didn't make them go away. I've cut out caffeine completely, didn't help.

My questions are...

Have any of you guys had these symptoms related to skipped beats? If so, what were the results?

Should I actually take the Nexium?

Is there any other way of relief besides changing the diet?

Any help/thoughts on this subject will be very much appreciated. Wow, I just read this long post. Sounds like I'm a big hypochondriac! But I am not. I've been healthy (knock on wood) up until all of this, save for back pain.

Thanks for listening, guys. Hope to hear your thoughts soon.

Wow, thanks for the replies you guys. It's good to know I'm not alone with these weird and sometimes terrifying symptoms. I just really, REALLY don't think the skipped beats are from anxiety. I first noticed them when I was calm and in bed. I don't get freaked out by them anymore, except for those times that my heart races while I'm at rest...doesn't happen often, but when it does, hoo boy.

about the magnesium, it could very well be it. Since Nexium has magnesium in it, maybe that's why I'm not feeling as horrible now as I was a few days ago. Perhaps it's just a coming/going spell, well I hope it doesn't come back I could definitely live without them. Since I started the Nexium Saturday, I've only noticed a few times where I've had skipped beats. Perhaps there is a connection...or maybe just luck :)

From all the searching I've done on the internet, my symptoms seem to be related to the Vagus nerve irritation theory...possibly aggrivated by GERD symptoms, though I've read that GERD does not directly attribute to heart palpitations/skips. I've had pains in my neck on both sides and the clicking started at the same time that did...I also hear my heart beat often in the left side of my head, as much of us do when we lay down - but sometimes I can be sitting up and hear it...may be no correlation at all, but hey I gotta look at all the symptoms here even if they have nothing to do with each other. But that makes the Vagus nerve explanation pretty viable

Has anyone noticed a connection between these symptoms and having menstrual periods? Just curious, because I had these symptoms a few days before my period, and a lot during...now that I am off it, the symptoms are much less. Dunno if there might be a connection with that, hopefully the medicine really is just REALLY working lol.

It's just really odd to be young and having no apparent heart disorder (although heart disease runs rampant in my family, so it's only a matter of time), yet my heart doesn't beat normally sometimes. I actually posted something about this on Yahoo answers, and got the "hypochondriac" speech hypochondriac my pasty white butt!

Anyways, thanks for your replies. You have definitely made me feel better about this. Hugs to all :)

Post Edited (synergistic) : 2/19/2008 4:21:22 AM (GMT-7)

Sounds like a good idea. I go back to the doctor in about 3 weeks to get a follow-up on the Nexium. I'm going to tell them to get those checked, and also my blood sugar.

Hi synergistic, I'm sorry you're feeling so frustrated. Speaking from the "inside," as a medical student, I can tell you that doctors are not finding correlations between certain things and not others because of financial concerns...it's just that the human body is ridiculously complex. I practically have nervous breakdowns every day as I learn more and more; the more I learn, the less I realize we actually know! That being said, some doctors really need to learn to communicate their limitations a little more clearly. I definitely share your frustrations there.

As far as your palpitations, you should read my old post about "light info on PVCs" - I will try to find it and bump it up for you. Basically it explains that palpitations are extremely common, unfortunately, but the good news is that they are not serious most of the time. If you've had a cardiac work-up and have no structural abnormalities, and a normal Holter monitor, this is a very good sign, and you should take it with a sigh of relief! Especially since you are 28. If it makes you feel any better, I am also 28 and too have experienced very uncomfortable palpitations. I have hundreds of PVCs a day and at this point have learned to essentially ignore them as best as possible. After much experimentation and research, I've found some things that seem to diminish them somewhat.

1) Cut out caffeine and alcohol entirely from your diet. These are proven triggers of cardiac arrhythmia.
2) If you smoke, quit! Nicotine is also a potent trigger.
3) Keep getting good rest at night, this will help immensely. Fatigue is yet another trigger.
4) Try some light to moderate exercise when you feel them coming on. Sometimes increasing the heart rate with exercise can "trick" the heart back into a normal rhythm. This has helped me at least 75% of the time. It was so bothersome at times that I would get up in the middle of the night and run around the block at full speed just to get rid of them!

I wouldn't say there's no connection between GERD and palpitations, but I couldn't say with certainty that there is a definite connection either. If you are not feeling well, you will be more prone to these feelings of discomfort simply because you are aware being generally uncomfortable. Know what I mean? You also seem to be going through a lot with your grandfather being in the hospital, not having insurance, etc. I think it's perfectly understandable that you'd be more aware of an erratic heartbeat during a time like this!

Have you tried any of the GERD remedies suggested on this board?

I hope you get some sleep tonight and best of luck...keep us updated.

Thank you Sarita, it was very helpful :)

Just a little update, heart skips/irregular beats have gotten a little better (knock on wood!) I got off sugary caffeinated soft drinks and it seems to help. Still need a little caffeine every now and then, though but I've learned to like diet drinks. never thought I'd say that!

I've also been watching what I eat, and elevated my bed - that has helped with trying to get to sleep, not as many skips. Nexium seems to be picking up now, so hopefully they'll lessen even more than they have already. I'm getting checked out for a hiatal hernia soon, and I've heard a lot about that and GERD being linked since it's in the same area. there's definitely something poking out in that area, that's what alarmed me in the beginning of all this GERD talk.

I'm about to get my period soon (bet you guys really wanted to know that -.-) and my stomach seems to get more irritated in the past couple of days, so I see a pattern here.

As for the anxiety/stress of this stuff, I've learned to live with this, and when it happens I just switch positions, roll my eyes and say "well isn't that nice".

I agree with that thread you bumped Sarita, it can be VERY stressful especially when you don't know what's going on or why it's happening. Thanks for your insight, it has really been helpful.

Hi Synergistic & all

     So did you get rid of your tachycardia?  I am a 29 year old female and I just started having tachycardia last weekend.  I went to urgent care cause it scared the crap out of me.  It's like a startled (fluttery) feeling in my chest and perhaps a bit funny feeling in general.  They hooked me to an ECG and actually caught it.  The girl was so excited and thought it was cool i'm like no, no it's not!.  I was wondering if anyone has ever connected  tach. to your period?  I know this is something you want to know but mine have started about a week before my period.  I had tachycardia once before about a year ago and i just figured it was stress and it stopped but i think it was about that time of the month as well.  I also had high blood pressure but "not alarmingly high".  Whenever i've taken my pulse it's 80-100bpm.  It scares the crap out of me!  Did they send you home and tell you not to worry about it?  Like yeah right how do you not worry about your heart not beating right.  I think being scared is giving me anxiety now!  I am sure i'm paying more attention to my heart now where as before i ignored it so it could be doing funny little things all the time and i didn't notice.  I have stopped caffeine and have put myself on a diet as i am overweight.  I was told I could do all the normal stuff i do.  Is there any info you learned?  I'm thinking about going to a cardiologist just to make myself feel better.  Any info you anyone can share would be great.  Thanks!

Hi,

   It's been two days not and I really haven't had any more skipped beats or whatever they are.  I have totally quit caffeine.  I'm wondering if it's an artificial sweetner though that's causing it.  Xylatol I believe it's called.  I realized last week that the last time my heart felt like this I chewed some gum that was sweetened with it.  It was something new at the time.  I looked at some gum  (Orbit) I bought before this started up again and what do you know sweetened with xylatol and nutrasweet.  Try no artificial sweetners and no caffeine and see if that helps.  Plus I think i'm figuring it's been like 2 weeks and i haven't croaked yet so....     I'm not thinking about it now.  Who knows.  I hope it doesn't start up again anytime soon.   Tons of people have it i've found.  Even people i know are like mine does that sometime too!!!   good luck with yours,  hope they quit soon. 

                             

Hey South 74. First off I'm 29yr old female. Does it feel like when someone comes around a corner and frightens you? That's the only way I could think to describe mine. So did they ask you about any stress you've been under? Mine did it once and I thought nothing of it and it didn't do it again for about a year. Last April it did it so much that one day I was freaked out and had my friend take me to urgent care. They hooked me up to an EKG and they also say something abnormal. The Urgent care doc told me to quit caffienne. I've pretty much taken that advice even though my fam. doctor said I didn't need to quit caffeinne totally. No more Sudafed when I have a sinus infection etc. The family Doc told me it could occur because of too much caffeine or if you stop drinking it suddenly as well. Stress could also be a factor. They sent me home and told me not to worry about it. (So hard to do! I was like "what if it doesn't go back to beating normally one time!" It always did though) Mine totally stopped and hasn't done it for almost a year knock on wood. Or I've just addapted and don't notice anymore. She said I wouldn't die or anything. After I left my stressful job it seemed to help too. I did notice that both times my tachycardia occured I had chewed some gum sweetened with Xylatol. The first time it occured Xylatol was labeled as a new sweetner on the package. The next time it occured(months apart) I happened to think about it and I had chewed gum with Xylatol in it as well only more often. I now avoid that sweetner too. Who knows.... Hopefully yours will stop as mine has. Definately go to your family doctor though.
Good luck!!
Sarah

Synergistic,

You described the feelings of your skipped beats in your original post exactly the same way I would describe mine. I have had all of the cardiac and GERD tests done and have been given a clean bill of health (short of MVP).  I have no idea why I experience them.  I do take precautionary meds, 81 mgs aspirin daily, and take 400 mgs magnesium daily.  I also take .5mgs lorazapam occassionally when the fear of them begins to set me up for a panick attack.  The lorazapm does not stop them (so I don't think they are anxiety related for me), but it does help me see them in a less fearful manor.  I have not had caffeine in years, rarely eat real sugar and never eat artificial sugar, rarely eat chocolate, I drink alcohal and smoke cigarettes both moderately.  I am now taking mucinex daily because, like you, I have the need to cough after I feel the skipped beat and I do cough up phlegm.  Thought the mucinex may reduce the phlegm just in case that is what is giving me the skipped beat sensation (self prescribing here LOL).  Wish I could give you some answers to all of this, just want you to know that I feel the same way as you and have also been given the "good to go" diagnosis.   Please keep us informed if you do get some diagnosis for your symptoms as many of us have these same symptoms.

Take care,

-Soul

Oh.. and when this first started I was full of anxiety! I calmed down and was able to breathe better in a warm bath.
It is not in your head. I believe it is nutritional deficits. Vitamin D3 -was also low in my blood work.

I would stay away from all diet sugars, too. Make smoothies in the blender with fruit and spinach.. Montel's blender, you do not need. any blender will work.

No anxiety at all when I keep my diet whole and healthy.. long gone..